We Need More Makerspaces

The storage industry has grown to include makers, inventors, and artisans. At least in Seattle, it takes that storage unit form with ActivSpace. This novel approach to leased space has given many small businesses just the right size office or makerspace to get started. For some, it becomes their long term business location, and why not?

In a recent post, I shared about hackerspaces. Ultimately, we need many more spaces where kids can learn, where adults can build, make, create, and communities can come together. MIT has their Fab Labs and they are growing. I've read several recent pieces about mobile fab labs in Cleveland, in Martinsville, VA, and elsewhere. You can read about this cool effort in Cleveland for STEM education with a mobile lab.

Can we create smaller, mobile makerspaces?

I think so. Many times, we have larger spaces we can borrow or use (say at a public school or public library) and cart in the 3D printer and laser cutter and CNC router. I know that isn't ideal, but it could work. I applaud MIT and its fab lab, but I can only imagine those trailers cost a bundle to create and I know there are many hours of designing these labs so they work across a wide variety of skill levels. But could we create a lower cost mobile maker lab, of sorts, and send 200, or 500 of them around the country where volunteers get involved? A Kickstarter project?

Creative Commons on Flickr | http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/

Creating a mini mobile makerspace that can be built again and again, almost like an open source RepRap, by small dedicated teams. Something you can build with your own team of volunteers quickly and affordably and cart it around the county or school district. A mobile lab you can pull behind a Toyota Prius or load in the back of a pickup with a canopy cover. Or maybe even an animated plane like this Muppet Mobile Lab (image courtesy Creative Commons on Flickr by Jurvetson).

Innovation and invention can jumpstart economies, but only when accessible. 3D printing, personal manufacturing (as the MakerGear interview points to) is only the beginning of a new revolution. MakeShift magazine is capturing some of the global ingenuity. There are many great organizations putting technology and materials into the hands of children and teachers. How do we increase the speed of those efforts? How do we get a conversation going about affordable makerspaces that make these tools more accessible? Maybe they don't need to be mobile.